Patents by Inventor Raymond D. Eppich

Raymond D. Eppich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8334809
    Abstract: An electronically scanned array antenna. The novel antenna includes a first planar array of antenna elements and one or more side planar arrays of antenna elements, each side array adjacent to the first array and tilted at a predetermined angle relative to the first array. In an illustrative embodiment, the antenna also includes a plurality of transmit/receive modules, each module coupled to one antenna element. Each transmit/receive module includes phase shifters for varying the relative phases of the antenna elements to form a desired overall beam pattern, and a low noise amplifier and high power amplifier for amplifying signals received and transmitted by the antenna element, respectively. In an illustrative embodiment, a processor provides individual phase and channel enable control signals for independently controlling the phase shifters and amplifiers, respectively, of each module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Nichols, James S. Mason, Gilbert M. Shows, Joel C. Roper, Raymond D. Eppich, Gustavo A. Burnum, Ike Chang
  • Patent number: 8125292
    Abstract: A coaxial transition includes a first conductor aligned along a first axis. The transition also includes a ground shield surrounding the first conductor such that a first gap exists between the first conductor and the ground shield. An electric field radiates between the first conductor and the ground shield through the first gap. The transition further includes a second conductor aligned along a second axis and coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor forms a second gap between the second conductor and a portion of the ground shield. A first portion of the electric field radiates between the second conductor and the ground shield through the second gap. The transition also includes a top ground plane aligned substantially parallel to the second conductor. A third gap exists between the top ground plane and the second conductor. The second gap and the third gap are substantially parallel with the second conductor therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Raymond D. Eppich, James M. Irion, II
  • Patent number: 8089404
    Abstract: A partitioned aperture array antenna. The novel antenna includes a first subarray having a first number of antenna elements equipped with transmit functionality and a second subarray having a second number of antenna elements equipped with receive functionality, wherein the first and second numbers are not equal and the first and second subarrays have at least one common antenna element. In an illustrative embodiment, the first subarray includes a transmit circuit coupled to each antenna element in the first subarray for controlling a relative transmit phase of the antenna element to steer an overall antenna transmit beam, and the second subarray includes a receive circuit coupled to each antenna element in the second subarray for controlling a relative receive phase of the antenna element to steer an overall antenna receive beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Nichols, James S. Mason, Gilbert M. Shows, Joel C. Roper, Raymond D. Eppich, Gustavo A. Burnum
  • Publication number: 20100097158
    Abstract: A coaxial transition includes a first conductor aligned along a first axis. The transition also includes a ground shield surrounding the first conductor such that a first gap exists between the first conductor and the ground shield. An electric field radiates between the first conductor and the ground shield through the first gap. The transition further includes a second conductor aligned along a second axis and coupled to the first conductor. The second conductor forms a second gap between the second conductor and a portion of the ground shield. A first portion of the electric field radiates between the second conductor and the ground shield through the second gap. The transition also includes a top ground plane aligned substantially parallel to the second conductor. A third gap exists between the top ground plane and the second conductor. The second gap and the third gap are substantially parallel with the second conductor therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Raymond D. Eppich, James M. Irion, II
  • Publication number: 20100099370
    Abstract: An electronically scanned array antenna. The novel antenna includes a first planar array of antenna elements and one or more side planar arrays of antenna elements, each side array adjacent to the first array and tilted at a predetermined angle relative to the first array. In an illustrative embodiment, the antenna also includes a plurality of transmit/receive modules, each module coupled to one antenna element. Each transmit/receive module includes phase shifters for varying the relative phases of the antenna elements to form a desired overall beam pattern, and a low noise amplifier and high power amplifier for amplifying signals received and transmitted by the antenna element, respectively. In an illustrative embodiment, a processor provides individual phase and channel enable control signals for independently controlling the phase shifters and amplifiers, respectively, of each module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Richard W. Nichols, James S. Mason, Gilbert M. Shows, Joel C. Roper, Raymond D. Eppich, Gustavo A. Burnum, Ike Chang
  • Publication number: 20100060517
    Abstract: A partitioned aperture array antenna. The novel antenna includes a first subarray having a first number of antenna elements equipped with transmit functionality and a second subarray having a second number of antenna elements equipped with receive functionality, wherein the first and second numbers are not equal and the first and second subarrays have at least one common antenna element. In an illustrative embodiment, the first subarray includes a transmit circuit coupled to each antenna element in the first subarray for controlling a relative transmit phase of the antenna element to steer an overall antenna transmit beam, and the second subarray includes a receive circuit coupled to each antenna element in the second subarray for controlling a relative receive phase of the antenna element to steer an overall antenna receive beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Richard W. Nichols, James S. Mason, Gilbert M. Shows, Joel C. Roper, Raymond D. Eppich, Gustavo A. Burnum